Weeks had passed since the sandstorm took hold of the homestead. Delaney was in the kitchen making an apple pie in her usual attire ~ an apron with nothing else. The weather had been great since Spencer left and after trashing all of his stuff she had already forgotten his name.

Leaning over the counter the pendant around her neck swung back and forth suspended above the glistening jam. There was so electricity on the farm although there was a phone with a dial hanging on the wall. A blue jay perched on a branch outside the window in the maple tree chirped and sang. The leaves falling to the ground were crimson and amber, the breeze in the air was shaking them off.

Delaney rolled her eyes, ‘omg not this again’, as she watched the mailman outside drop of mail that she knew there was a letter in at that moment. She was expecting her Patagonia backpack, the one that she would be taking with her to meet Forrest in Niagara Falls in December. The current month was October and it had been 2 weeks since Spencer left that Sunday. She was really hoping to not hear from him. She had been spending a lot of time writing songs on her guitar about Forrest and it was kind of a vibe.

The mailman drove away leaving a similar cloud of dust in his wake and when Spencer left, but not entirely because he peeled out at full speed. 

She set the rolling pin down and turned over one last picture of Spencer on the counter as she walked to her bedroom to put on her jacket. As soon as she reached the mailbox she tucked the carrier flag down and opened it slowly. She pulled out 7 pieces of mail and flipped through them carefully. It was the 4th letter that was from Spencer. She threw it away immediately and rehearsed in her mind saying she had never received it. She hoped he wouldn’t come back to the homestead, the deed was in her name after all. 

One of the letters was from Forrest. She went inside and sat down on the cowhide armchair and opened it:

“My love for you never wanes

~ F”. 

She went and put it by her bedside and laid down. Anxiety began to consume her as her greatest fear ~ Spencer ~ beckoned her mind. Should she read the letter or would her denial of ever receiving it be enough. She opened a music box and listened to the tune and thought of Forrest, if only he could save her, but she knew this would have to be something she would have to get through if she ever had a chance of seeing him again.